Will Hawkins come back like Collins?

LSU junior offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins (65) helped talk La’el Collins into staying with the Tigers for his senior season, but will the Music City Bowl be the last collegiate game for Hawkins?(Photo11: Associated Press)

BATON ROUGE – If LSU offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins practices what he preached, LSU coach Les Miles and Tiger fans will be very happy.

It was Hawkins and Miles, a former offensive guard at Michigan himself, who led the wall of persuasion to convince offensive tackle La’el Collins to remain at LSU for his senior season in 2014.

Considered a prospective second round pick in the NFL Draft, Collins had a banner senior season and is now considered a first round selection.

“Oh yeah, he’s definitely a first-rounder,” Hawkins said Tuesday before the Tigers (8-4) practiced for their Dec. 30 date with Notre Dame (7-5) in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. “You can see the advantages of him staying, especially on the offensive line. He matured tremendously. It’s great for him.”

Collins, a senior from Redemptorist High in Baton Rouge who became a pillar at left tackle at LSU the last two seasons, was named a first team, All-Southeastern Conference lineman by the Associated Press and the league coaches last week and won the top SEC offensive lineman award. On Sunday, he was named the winner of the Charles McClendon Award for the team’s most valuable player.

“He’s had a great year,” Hawkins said. “Not much to argue about with his decision.”

And now Hawkins finds himself in the same situation Collins was in a year ago. A third-year sophomore from West St. Mary High in Baldwin who was red-shirted in 2012, he is eligible for the 2015 NFL Draft. He has been LSU’s pillar on the right side for the last two seasons.

“I’m just trying to make the most of this game,” Hawkins said, trying to avoid the NFL question. “I know I’m eligible but just focusing on the game.”

Collins said much the same thing a year ago at this time as the Tigers prepared to play Iowa in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

“I talked to La’el about coming back because he would have more experience,” Hawkins said. “And he wanted to help the team out and help him out. It was a great opportunity.”

Asked if he could follow in Collins’ footsteps, Hawkins just smiled.

“I’m going to wait and see,” he said. “Right now, I’m just looking forward to this game. I’ve always dreamed of playing teams like USC or Notre Dame. This is going to be an old school game.”